ISIS Apologizes For Releasing Sotloff Beheading Video Early

A video purportedly showing U.S. journalist Steven Sotloff making what appears to be a pre-written speech in an unknown location is seen in this still image from video released by Islamic State September 2, 2014. REUTERS/Islamic State via Reuters TV

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Islamic State leaders posted an apology to their followers for making public American journalist Steven Sotloff’s video ahead of schedule, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

“The ‘Uyūn al-Ummah [Twitter] account shared a video of the message by the Islamic State’s second American prisoner, Steven Sotloff, before it was officially released by the official Al-I’tisām Organization account,” their apology begins.

“The admins asked the brothers operating ‘Uyūn al-Ummah to explain who had published the clip, and the brother — God forgive us and him — replied: ‘We saw somebody in our mentions tweeting about the clip. Our brother thought that Al-I’tisām had released it and hurried to share the video. But when ‘Uyūn al-Ummah’s admin checked Al-I’tisām’s account to confirm its authenticity, he found that it hadn’t yet been released, and proceeded to delete it, apologizing to his followers and his brothers in the Islamic State.'”